Alión 2011, Vega Siciliauitverkocht / sold out
The big news here is that the 2010 Alión will not be released because there was a problem with the fining leaving suspended sediment, that was floating in the wine, which made it cloudy. They decided not to release it. That means more than 300,00 bottles of wine will be destroyed, a hard decision to make, but as they are committed to offer only the very best quality to their customers, they decided to release 2011 earlier than normal and skip 2010 altogether. That’s a brave decision, which implies a substantial cost to the winery to preserve the quality of the wines. I also tasted the 2009, which I had not been tasted before.

The 2011 Alión is pure Tempranillo from vineyards averaging 25 to 30 years of age, harvested early (second half of September) matured for 16 months in new Nevers barrels (that’s a difference with Vega Sicilia; for Alión all wood is French) It is an exuberant, ripe Alión, with hedonist’s aromas that jump out of the glass. Winemaker Javier Ausás tells me he likes the wines when they are young and showy like this one. It is indeed a showy vintage, whit aromas of violets, molasses, cereals and a whiff of malt whisky. We tasted the wine a little warm, but that does not benefit the wine, which should be served at 15-16 C and allowed to warm up and open up in the glass. It’s also quite smoky, with reminiscences of very good barrels, black aromas, violets, black olives and fresh plums. The palate is tannic with lactic and warm flavors. This is a very exuberant, showy vintage for Alión, and here I tend to agree with Ausás: even though this has plenty of stuffing to age I’d drink it young in its exuberant phase. 290,000 bottles produced.
Drink now- 2019.Score: Robert Parker 94 punten.

Valbuena
2009, Vega Sicilia
The 2009 Valbuena was harvested early, the result of a warm summer. It’s mostly Tempranillo complemented with 5% Merlot. The wine matured for five months in 20,000-liter oak vats, 16 months in new barriques (equal parts French and American oak), four months in used barrels and then four more months in the vats before being bottled in May 2011. 180,000 bottles produced. It has some reductive notes and would benefit from some time in a decanter, were you’d start appreciating its background of cherries which feels very classical and serious. The palate is well-built, with polished tannins, very good acidity and freshness with elegance and fine tannins. Mature and with good typicity.
Drink 2014-2020.Score: Robert Parker 94 punten.

Unico 2004, Vega Sicilia
Moving on to the big guns, the 2004 Unico is truly spectacular, in line with the 1970 and 1994. It’s a blend of 87% Tempranillo and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. Unico has a unique long aging, in the case of the 2004, 15 months in 20,000-liter vats, 25 months in new barrels, 17 months in used barrels and a further 26 months in the big oak vats. It has complex notes of tobacco, cedar wood and blackberries, ands shows very good balance between power and elegance as well as perfect ripeness.
It has a similar profile to the 1994, but there’s ten years difference in experience and technical knowledge. There is nuance; there is detail, filigree, balance, harmony and complexity. There is a fine texture. In short, it is a great, world-class wine, a superb vintage for Unico. 87,500 bottles, 2,229 magnums, 150 double magnums and 5 Imperials were filled with this extraordinary wine. This is approachable now, but it’s a shame to drink so soon. It will age for a very long time, as it has the balance and harmony to do so, and it will develop more complexity with time. Drink 2016-2029. But if the single harvest Unico is fantastic, the multi-vintage blend could be even better as it also plays with the benefit of extra aging time.Score: Robert Parker 97 punten.

Reserva Especial [ release 2014 ], Vega SiciliaVintages: 1994 – 1995 - 2000
The NV 2014 Release Reserva Especial is a blend of different harvests, and therefore sold without a harvest year. This 2014 Release is a blend of 1994, 1995 and 2000, three very good years for Unico. Reserva Especial is the most Burgundian, classical and reminiscent of the old-style Vega Sicilia of yesteryear, a more subtle, baroque wine, aged for a long time in wood. It has a high level of complexity and a touch of volatility, which clearly tells you that this is not a style for everyone. This is not a fruit-driven wine. It’s a tertiary wine with a developed, complex bouquet consisting of hints of leather, earth spices and iodine, and a subtle, elegant style This was bottled in 2010 and is one of the best modern-day Reserva Especial vintages. By the way now that we’re talking about the best Reserva Especial, if you ever have the chance to drink a bottle of the 1990 release – that is the best one I’ve ever had. 15,500 bottles of this prodigious wine were produced. Make sure you grab at least one!
Drink now 2025. Score: Robert Parker 98 punten, release 2014